Cape Town 151211 L-R Dr Japie van Zyl, Prof Adam Small , Judge Kate ORegan, and Judge Edwin Cameron. Four South African scholars received honorary doctorates at the last graduation ceremony Friday at Stellenbosch University. Academic, poet and playwright, Prof Adam Small Space scientist, Dr Japie van Zyl, who played a leadership role in the successful Curiosity mission to Mars in 2012 Academic, jurist, campaigner for human rights and judge of the Constitutional Court, Judge Edwin Cameron Internationally renowned jurist, campaigner for womens rights and gender equality and also judge of the Constitutional Court, Judge Kate ORegan. Photo by Michael Walker
University of Stellenbosch elects retired Justice Cameron as chancellor
“It is a privilege to have someone of the stature of Justice Edwin Cameron as Chancellor of the university.”
Cape Town 151211 L-R Dr Japie van Zyl, Prof Adam Small , Judge Kate ORegan, and Judge Edwin Cameron. Four South African scholars received honorary doctorates at the last graduation ceremony Friday at Stellenbosch University. Academic, poet and playwright, Prof Adam Small Space scientist, Dr Japie van Zyl, who played a leadership role in the successful Curiosity mission to Mars in 2012 Academic, jurist, campaigner for human rights and judge of the Constitutional Court, Judge Edwin Cameron Internationally renowned jurist, campaigner for womens rights and gender equality and also judge of the Constitutional Court, Judge Kate ORegan. Photo by Michael Walker
The University of Stellenbosch (SU) has welcomed the retired Constitutional Court Justice Edwin Cameron, as the new chancellor on Thursday.
Cameron is an alumnus to the University of Stellenbosch
Cameron was elected this morning, by the executive members of the senate, president and vice-president of the SU Convocation, and is reported to be elected by an “overwhelming” majority. The retired Concourt judge has accolades of being an academic, author, jurist and now gains the stripes of being a chancellor.
“I am honoured and humbled to have this chance to serve SU and its communities, and look forward to my new tasks.”
Edwin Cameron
The University is elated to have Cameron on board
“He has helped develop South African law to truly reflect the fundamental values of the Constitution. Moreover, his role in securing the inclusion of sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination in the Bill of Rights, as well as his advocacy for persons with HIV/Aids, has made him a key player in South African and international law.”
Stellenbosch University
The former judge is not a stranger to the University, in 2015, he was granted an honorary doctorate in acknowledgement of his professional and personal advocacy for freedom and equality; SU further states that Cameron has entrenched foundational values in the South African legal system.
Edwin Cameron retired last month after serving ten years in South African law
Cameron started his career at the University of Witwatersrand’s Centre for Applied Legal Studies before he was appointed as senior counsel (SC) in 1994 and as an acting judge of the high court by President Nelson Mandela later that same year.
He was appointed a judge of the high court in 1995, judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2001, and justice of the Constitutional Court in 2009, before that he studied at the Universities of Stellenbosch, Oxford and South Africa. Cameron retired last month after 10 years at the apex court, at SU he replaces business mogul Johann Rupert, whose term ends in December.
“It is a privilege to have someone of the stature of Justice Edwin Cameron as Chancellor of the university. He is a champion for human rights and boasts a distinguished legal career. I look forward to working with him. We also thank our current Chancellor, Dr Johann Rupert, for his hard work and assistance during his term, which ends on 31 December.”
Stellenbosch University Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Wim de Villiers
